June
26-29, 2003
Pheasant Run
Resort; St. Charles, IL
This is where it all started for us:
Bloomington Gold in 1998 was the first National event for our fledgling
Corvettes Conquer Cancer Tour. They set the "Gold Standard" for all
other events to meet for prime display space,
both for our table and for the
car, lodging and general VIP treatment.
This year we collected $325.00
in donations,
which we sent to the American Cancer Society's Kane County unit in nearby
Batavia.
Wednesday, June 25
The trip begins.
Nothing worth a photo on the way out...
especially the wretched Super 8 motel in Maumee, OH!
Thursday,
June 26
Some
interesting Corvettes scheduled for the Mecum Auction
This 54/55 test mule that Zora used to prep for his historic
150 record run at Daytona Beach.
According to the documentation, the engine block has a 1952
casting date code! Think about it... the V8 wasn't introduced until '55!
A Harley Earl styling exercise '63(?)
Early custom '53.
Friday,
June 27
At
our booth in the main lobby of the Mega Center, with Corvette Wheel Specialist
Mike Sweeney.
My frequent co-pilot and bodyguard, Gary Readio, checks out
the
Bloomington Gold program during a rare quiet moment at our display.
Spotted
at the "Sock Hop" Friday night: this "62 C5".
In my opinion, the meld of '62 and C5 styling doesn't work
nearly as well as the 53 C5, especially in the back.
Saturday,
June 28
Remember
the yellow "Cardboard Corvette" Z06 from last year?
This is David Rusthoven's latest creation.
The
Bloomington Gold Special Collection for 2003
Chip & Judy Miller's "Numbers Matching" pair:
'53 and '03 with the same serial number - 181!
Our Tour C5 will share space with them in a couple of weeks
at the NCRS National Convention in Hershey, PA.
Tyler Townsley's 87/88 engineering prototype ZR-1.
.
Our
parking spot outside. We had protection...
Saturday
evening: The Bloomington Gold Road Tour
Lining
up, as the storm clouds build.
Winners of the Silent Auction for the position behind us:
Jayne and Steve Kilian.
They wrote a check for $150 to the American Cancer Society for this privilege.
Along the route.
There were many signs along the route saying "Stop and
Burn!".
This enterprising group actually had a working drag strip "christmas
tree"!
Thank you Steve Tribble, Road Tour organizer.
OK, so it rained. As we reached our dinner destination, we
got this:
Sunday,
June 29
Another Harley Earl car.
The
Bloomington Gold judging field...
... found Bill Nichols with his NCRS Duntov Award-winning '67.
Leaving
for home
Roadside
attractions (?!)
Sunday
afternoon traffic west of Chi-town. Guess we're going the right direction!
Monday,
June 30
Happy 50th Birthday, Corvette!
Yeah,
I guess you could say it rained again!
Back
home again: the final stats.
Click
to go directly to next event!
